It’s official, chalk up another victory for Chuck Schumer and the DSCC. The next United States Senator for Oregon will be Jeff Merkley:
Jeff Merkley threw himself into his role as senator-elect today, saying he’s ready to join a growing a movement to remake the nation’s policies and image.
“This is the beginning of a transformational change for America,” he said at Portland State’s Urban Center. He said he would immediately set to work on a “bold agenda” that includes better health care, a new energy policy and ending the war in Iraq.
Of course, Obama’s wasn’t the only big election last night. Let’s take a look out how things are shaping up in the Senate.
Democratic pickups by Mark Warner (VA), Kay Hagan (NC), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), and the brothers cousins Udall (CO and NM) put us at a respectable 56 seats (55 if Joe Lieberman is politely asked to get the hell out of the Democratic caucus). Is there any way to the magical 60? It’s going to be hard without Kentucky. Bruce Lunsford put up one hell of a fight, but Mitch McConnell managed to hold on to his seat by a 53%-47% margin.
Oregon is still too close to call, although the polls had been trending towards Democrat Jeff Merkley. Incumbent Republican Gordon Smith ran a campaign of tying himself to Barack Obama, and, with a 15,000 vote lead and 75% of precincts reporting, it just may well have worked.
In Minnesota, GOP Sen. Norm Coleman has delcared victory, but the AP is uncalling the race for him. With a roughly 1,000 vote margin, this race is going to a mandatory recount, so it will be a few days before we know whether Al Franken managed to edge Coleman out.
Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss holds a three point lead in Georgia, but this is still one to watch. Chambliss has 50% of the vote to Democrat Jim Martin’s 47%, but if Chambliss drops below 50% this race will go into an automatic runoff.
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